Wanted: Shopkeeper (Silverpines Book 4)

by Sophie Dawson

  The tingle of the Calling faded so Clay put it aside. He’d know when and what in God’s timing. It wasn’t something he could force.

  As Millie rolled out the dough for Ida’s birthday pies she thought about how caring Clay was. He’d embraced her children just as she had his. His work to build the needed bedrooms impressed her. She hadn’t known he was a carpenter as well as a shopkeeper.

  Fern was happy with her new room. Clay had been right that the boys didn’t care that their room wasn’t going to be finished yet. The pink paint spots didn’t please Millie but now the storeroom and the back room were clean, and the play area set up and being used. It freed Fern from child care duty and also gave Millie the opportunity to work either upstairs or in the mercantile.

  After they all finished swimming and eating, the family had gone to several houses where no one lived anymore and picked cherries off the trees and blueberries from bushes. Millie didn’t see any reason for them to go to waste.

  Yesterday she’d tried to get the boys to help pit the cherries. They lasted for about a cup each then thought of chores they needed to do down in the store. Abe wasn’t any help but he kept her company as did Kitty who played with a ball of paper under the table.

  It seemed to Millie that Clay was touching her in more ways and more often. At first he’d just place his hand on her back as they walked somewhere together. Next he’d place an arm across the back of the settee in the evenings as they sat in the parlor. Now he held her hand at times or touched her shoulder. That night after not knowing where Ida was he’d held her in his arms while she cried. She’d wrapped her arm around him. And he’d kissed her.

  Millie thought she could still taste his lips when she licked hers. It was silly of course. It was almost two weeks ago.

  The budding desire she felt for him was both welcome and distressing. She knew Sherman was gone and he would want her to be a complete wife to Clay, but she missed him terribly. She was sure Clay missed Lucy. How could he not? They’d loved each other just as she and Sherman had.

  Millie smiled to herself. She had wonderful memories. She could share them with her children. Clay would do the same. They would create new memories as the time progressed. She realized she was looking forward to building memories with Clay and his children. She also realized she was looking forward to building memories of just the two of them. But she’d let Clay take the lead on that.

  As she was spooning pie filling into the crust Nate came running in. “Mama, Pa needs you to come tend the store. He’s gotta go somewhere.”

  “Where?” Millie washed her hands and picked up Abe.

  “He didn’t say. Just strapped on his gun belt and ran out the door.”

  Clay closed the cash drawer and said goodbye to Miss Edie and Miss Ethel Howard. They ran a girls’ orphanage and school in town. Sweet spinsters who lived in a large house on the edge of town.

  Ryder and Nate were moving stock from one side of the store to another. He and Millie had decided to do some rearranging, looking to add more variety to the store. New products were coming available all the time and they wanted to be able to stock them. Ben and Reuben were putting canned goods on the shelves. That was a good job for two precocious boys. Once they were done he’d release them all to go play outdoors.

  Clay was jotting down something needing ordering when the Calling struck him hard and strong. “Nate, run upstairs and get your Mama. I need to head out for a bit.” Clay grabbed the gun belt he kept in a box on a high shelf behind the counter. Nate ran to do as he was told while Clay looked at Ryder. “It’s a Calling. Strong and urgent. Don’t say anything to anyone. Nate will figure it out but tell him to keep quiet about it. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Clay ran out the door as a wide-eyed Ryder nodded.

  Running up Main Street, Clay glanced around. He was headed to the jail to talk with Marshal Sewell. There was a slight glow around the bank. He knew no one else could see it and it wouldn’t be there later. It was the Calling. Something was going to happen at the bank. Most likely a robbery.

  Miss Tilde Lasek was running the bank now since the death of her father and brother in the earthquake. She was young and struggling to understand the intricacies of banking. Clay’s Calling showed she would be harmed or worse when outlaws came to do their evil.

  Pulling the door to the jail open, Clay rushed in. “There’s going to be a bank robbery. Soon.”

  Marshal Alex Sewell and Deputy Gene Autry jumped up from their seats behind their desks.

  “What? How do you know?” Marshal Sewell asked.

  “It’ll take a little bit of explaining. You know of Nugget Nate Ryder and The Preacher?”

  “Everybody does,” said Autry.

  “Nate was my great-uncle and Nathan is my second cousin. Callings run in my family. My Grandma Aggie had them for girls in need. Mine are not as strong as Nugget Nate’s or The Preacher’s, but when I get them I know, and right now I know some outlaws are getting ready to rob the bank and harm Miss Lasek.”

  “Gene, run, get Mason Dekum at the gun shop. He’ll help.” As the deputy left Alex continued. “My other deputies are out at Bennett’s ranch. They were needing some help with some colts and the deputies used to work there.”

  Clay nodded.

  “So, you’re a relative of the Ryders of Kentucky. I lived on Ryder Mountain until I was sixteen. I know all the stories. They’re told and retold at just about every gathering. I understand all about the Callings. Some of the Ryders on the mountain still have them.”

  “Yes, Nugget Nate and Aunt Penny came to Stones Creek several times while I was growing up. I have the very knife Jim Bowie used.” Clay chuckled. “So do each of my brothers and any other boy Nate gave one to over the years. Nathan came some too when he was with Uncle Nate in the summers.”

  Alex laughed. “Nathan told me a number of stories about his grandfather. Kept me laughing until my sides ached.”

  “You should have heard them from the man himself. One thing I’ll say is that his versions of the tales of his and my grandmother’s growing up years differ tremendously. Especially the tale about the skunk.”

  Deputy Autry and Mason Dekum came in then. Marshal Sewell deputized Clay and Mason and they made plans to stake out the bank. It wasn’t long before three men on horses stopped at the bank.

  “Those men were part of Little’s gang,” Gene said. “They tried to take over the town before Marshal got here. Pretty much succeeded too.”

  “I thought they died in the mudslide,” Sewell said. “Must not have been at the camp when it happened. Never thought they’d come back to town. Gene, you head around back to keep them from escaping that way. We’ll enter and stop them.”

  They gave the deputy time to get in place then ran across the street and into the bank.

  One outlaw had Tilde Lasek in his arms trying to kiss her while the other two were putting money into a canvas sack.

  “Stop, you’re under arrest. Let go of Miss Lasek,” Marshal Sewell yelled.

  Clay and Mason fanned out to cover each outlaw with their guns. Caught red-handed the thieves gave up without shots being fired. It wasn’t long and they were in jail and Miss Lasek was escorted home. Too nervous to keep it open, she closed the bank for the day.

  Clay walked back to the mercantile pleased with how everything went down. He thanked God that no shots were fired and no one was hurt. He doubted many townsfolk even knew there had been an attempted robbery at the bank.

  Millie rushed to him as he entered the store. “What happened? Where have you been? Nate said you took your guns and just ran out.”

  He glanced around. No customers were there and no children either. “There were three men trying to rob the bank. I helped the marshal stop it. They are in jail and Miss Lasek is at home, scared but safe.”

  “What?” Millie shrieked. “Why would you be involved in something like that? Something so dangerous.”

  “I was needed to help stop the evil those men w
anted to do. Miss Lasek was already being accosted when we went in. She could have been hurt or worse, taken by those men.” Clay pulled her into his arms, hugging her to him. She relaxed some.

  “Poor Tilde. She’s had such a difficult time since the earthquake. Her mother doesn’t know anything about the bank and refuses to learn. Tilde was a teller before but now has all the responsibility for the bank.”

  “Has she advertised for a husband?” Clay asked.

  “She didn’t when the rest of us did. I don’t know if she has since then. If she hasn’t this might make her think about it more seriously.” Millie pulled back and looked at Clay. “That doesn’t tell me how you got involved in it.”

  Clay wasn’t comfortable telling her about the Callings. They weren’t close enough for him to be sure she would take him seriously when he explained about them. He didn’t want to lie to her though. “I just had an inkling something was going to happen. I went to the Marshal’s office and helped them capture the outlaws.”

  “But how did you know?” Millie pressed.

  “God just laid it on my heart and I had to obey right then.”

  Millie just looked at him. Her eyes spoke questions he didn’t want to answer. Then they darkened with worry.

  “What if something had happened to you? What if you were hurt badly or killed? What would I do? I can’t face the loss of another husband. Not to mention having nine children to raise on my own. I can’t do it. Please, tell me you won’t do something so dangerous again.”

  Clay hugged her to him tightly. He understood her concern. She’d barely been able to keep up with all her responsibilities before he came. Now they would be even more massive if he were gone. He was torn between his need to obey God when He sent the Callings and his love for Millie.

  The realization that he loved Millie caught Clay by surprise. It was something he’d have to think about later. Right now he had to reassure her.

  “If God calls me to do something for Him, I will. I believe He brought us together and nothing is going to tear us apart. God is faithful, and He’ll keep me safe no matter what He has me do for Him.”

  Millie laid her head on his chest. “I hope you are right. I can’t lose you.”

  Clay prayed that what he’d just told her was true. That God would keep him safe whenever He sent a Calling.

  CHAPTER TEN

  THE DAY WAS hot and sunny. Clay opened the door hoping to let some air through. He began sweeping the boardwalk.

  “Well, isn’t this just the picture of an industrious merchant.” Although phrased as a question the intonation was a derisive statement.

  “Good day, Mr. Terhall.” Clay just managed to keep his tone neutral. “Are you needing something from the store today?”

  “Not today. I’m just out for a stroll.” Terhall swung his cane around nearly knocking over a display of cherries. He walked past Clay then turned around.

  “I saw you out with your family on Wednesday. A fine lot of children you have there.”

  “Yes, they are. Thank you.”

  “You be sure to keep them safe. It wouldn’t do for something to happen to any of them.” Terhall turned and started walking back up the street.

  Clay clenched his teeth. The man had just threatened his children. That was a declaration of war in Clay’s mind. At the moment nothing could be done. Terhall hadn’t specifically threatened anything. He’d just mentioned to keep them safe. It was the tone and obvious intent of the words.

  The man was dangerous and evil. There had been a fire last week at a house near the edge of town. The woman who lived there wouldn’t pay Terhall’s protection ‘fee.’ She made it out safely but her house was destroyed. She’d moved into one of the abandoned houses. Clay and Millie gave her items she needed to start housekeeping over again.

  Clay wanted to tell Marshal Sewell about the threat but he knew there was nothing that could be done until something actually occurred at the store or to some member of his family. He’d make sure nothing happened to any of them. Clay prayed for God’s protective covering while he swept the boardwalk.

  With no customers and everything pretty well caught up, Clay had sent the boys off to play or explore. It was Monday so Millie was upstairs doing laundry. He wanted to get the bathing room started so she’d have a laundry room, but that was going to have to wait. The boys’ room still needed to be finished.

  Clay was impressed with Sherman Messer’s accommodations for hanging laundry. There was a staircase leading up to the roof. Drying lines were strung from poles set along the edge of the roof. With no yard it gave Millie a place to hang the laundry.

  Grabbing a chair, Clay sat outside watching the few people traveling past. He knew Millie was upset about his involvement in stopping the bank robbery. He understood her concerns but he also knew that nothing would happen to him when he answered the Callings. Millie couldn’t know that. She didn’t know about them.

  Clay pushed back onto two legs of the chair, leaning it against the wall. Millie was more than he’d imagined when he answered her letter. She was much prettier and had such a sweet disposition. Even when she’d been so stressed from all the events that brought him to Silverpines, Millie didn’t complain and wasn’t snapping at the children or him. She had her moments of frustration. Having nine children would do that to anyone, but he’d see her look toward the ceiling and take a breath before dealing with whatever the issue was. When Clay asked her about it Millie smiled.

  “I’m sending up a quick prayer that I don’t kill any of them. So far God has been faithful and kept me from becoming a murderer. I just pray He continues to.”

  Clay had laughed and hugged her.

  Thinking of Millie, he thought about his realization of the other day. Clay was in love with Millie. It surprised him. They’d only been together about a month. How could it happen so quickly, especially when he was still mourning Lucy?

  Lucy, he’d known since they were children. They simply grew into love. No one was surprised when they announced their engagement. When she died it seemed that half of his soul died with her.

  The feelings he had for Millie were new and intense. They’d come quickly as he got to know her. On the heels of that came desire. He wanted her as a husband wants his wife. Lying next to her at night was exquisite torture. Especially when she turned to face him in her sleep and her hand reached out as she slept to touch his arm or chest. It was all he could do not to pull her to him and act on his yearning.

  Again, Clay went to the Lord. This time he asked that his wife would be attracted to him as he was to her. The years could stretch long and lonely if she wasn’t.

  Millie picked up another small skirt and pinned it to the line. At least this was the last load. Of course the first load was now ready to be taken down, sprinkled, and rolled to be ready for ironing tomorrow. She now had double the amount of laundry to do each week than she’d had before.

  It took all of Monday to do the laundry and all day Tuesday to iron. Maybe if the mercantile’s income was stable they could hire someone to help with it. She would start teaching Fern to iron soon. Millie didn’t want to yet since her daughter had spent so much time recently taking care of the younger children. It could wait until fall or winter.

  Pulling a pair of Nate’s trousers from the basket she noticed they were frayed around the hem and the knees had been mended. They were hand-me-downs from Ryder. He’d need new ones to start school in. Nate was nearly as tall as Ryder now. They both had more growth to go but there wouldn’t be as many hand-me-downs going forward.

  Ryder looked more like his father with his blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Nate was blue-eyed but his hair was darker, a light brown Clay said was from Lucy.

  Clay’s eyes could mesmerize Millie. They were expressive and she saw love for all the children shining in them. Both his and hers. She was thankful neither of them showed partiality between the families. Clay had told her shortly after they married that he saw Fern, Reuben, Opal, and Abe as his ow
n. Just as there is no partiality in God’s eyes, he was not going to allow any in his. Millie agreed and took pains to treat everyone as evenly as possible.

  That was one of the things she admired about Clay. Totally devoted to God, he made time every morning to read his Bible and pray. She knew he prayed also whenever he could or felt the need during the day. It was something she wanted to cultivate within herself. She tended to get lazy in her reading and time devoted strictly to prayer.

  The new minister in town, Pastor James, had helped her with that. “You don’t have to be doing nothing at the same time as you pray. It’s good to set time aside strictly for prayer but you can pray anytime. You don’t have to bow your head and fold your hands. Some of the most effective prayers are those when you are needing to lean on the Lord right then.”

  That opened Millie up to pray at any time no matter what she was doing. With nine children the prayers went up often as requests as well as praises.

  A shirt of Clay’s lay on the top in the basket now. She picked it up and laid it against her cheek. He filled it out well. It embarrassed her but she covertly watched as he dressed and undressed. His well-defined muscles rippled when he moved. She would fist her hands to keep from reaching out to him.

  Pinning the shirt on the line, Millie pulled her eyebrows together, thinking. He’d told her he had an inkling that there was going to be a robbery at the bank. That wasn’t a very good reason in her opinion. Then he’d implied that God had directed him to go to the marshal’s office. Millie didn’t know if that was true or just him giving excuses.

  Scripture came to mind. The verses Clay told her were his life verses. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, And He will direct your paths.

  She was going to trust and acknowledge that God was directing Clay’s and her paths. If he said the Lord led him to the marshal’s office, she was going to trust. Clay had said he would obey whenever God instructed him to do something. Millie might not understand it, how he knew it was God, but it wasn’t necessary for her to. Just as with him, she was going to trust and lean.